OK, for years I have been pretending that I read books, while I have never read more than 20 books a year. At least that’s what my Goodreads stats say. But I have planned to change that for good now.
Saturday, April 13: Read 11 pages. The chapter is interesting. It talks of a dystopian future and lays out the scene for the story that is going to be told. I can’t believe I bought this book in 2014 and then never read it. The protagonist is a bounty hunter in a distant future where the earth is plagued by radioactivity and the technology has come to a point where electric sheep look exactly like the real ones. But people now want the real ones for some reason. I see, the point maybe is, people just want what’s rare and different. It sounds a lot like a chapter from a coursebook that we read back in the day. It was in Urdu and the title was, “Man is never happy”. I believe this is going to be one of those stories. I don’t know. Let’s see how it goes.
I found “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” to be a thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating read. Philip K. Dick presents a dystopian vision of a future where technology has surpassed humanity and raises important ethical questions about the nature of consciousness and artificial intelligence.
The novel’s portrayal of advanced androids, almost indistinguishable from real humans yet lacking empathy, is a cautionary tale about the dangers of creating artificial intelligence that mimics human behaviour without possessing a true consciousness. This serves as a reminder of the importance of considering the moral implications of our technological advancements.
Additionally, the theme of authenticity, represented by the characters’ longing for real animals amidst a world of artificiality, highlights the human desire for genuine and unique experiences. It serves as a commentary on the human condition and our tendency to value what is rare and authentic.
The author’s unique, stream-of-consciousness narrative style adds to the overall atmosphere of the novel and provides a complex and multi-layered reading experience. The story’s protagonist, Rick Deckard, is a morally ambiguous character whose inner turmoil reflects the larger existential questions raised by the novel.
Overall, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” is a thought-provoking exploration of the consequences of creating artificial intelligence that can mimic human behaviour. It is a novel that will make the reader question the nature of humanity and the ethics of technology. As someone with a background in both computer science and humanities, I found it to be a valuable addition to my literary repertoire and would highly recommend it to others with similar interests.